GULF SHORES, Ala. – Oklahoma City University moved onto bracket play of the NAIA softball championships after a 4-1 win over Azusa Pacific (Calif.) on Saturday at Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

The ninth-ranked Stars moved to 47-12 and 3-0 in pool play. OCU takes on No. 1-ranked California Baptist at 10 a.m. Monday. OCU improved to 11-7 against ranked teams this year, 4-4 vs. teams ranked in the top 10.

Lily LaVelle, a junior from Bridge Creek, Okla., held eighth-ranked Azusa Pacific to one run on three hits and three walks. LaVelle (30-8) struck out 12.

Azusa pushed across a run in the seventh inning after Jac Harkey led off with a single, then LaVelle hit two batters to load the bases. Lindsay Clark, running for Harkey, scored on a wild pitch. LaVelle finished the game by getting Bekah Weisser on a fly ball to center field.

In the third, Azusa Pacific put runners on second base and third, but LaVelle responded to keep Azusa Pacific off the board. Harkey drew a leadoff walk, then Natalie Barnaby doubled with one out. LaVelle fanned Angie Sprague and Nicole Llorens to work out of the jam.

LaVelle notched a strikeout and a popout to strand two Azusa runners in the fourth, then got a strikeout and a groundout with two runners on in the fifth.

OCU built a fifth-inning 4-0 advantage. Kylee Rounsaville scored Brittany Tibbs from third base by chopping a base hit down the left-field foul line.

In the third, Nathalie Timmermans put OCU ahead 2-0 on a single past the shortstop. LaVelle reached home plate by stealing third, then scored on a misfire by Harkey, the Azusa catcher.

Timmermans drove in OCU's first run on a base hit to right field in the first.

Rounsaville, a freshman from Yukon, Okla., went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Joyner, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Stars. Timmermans, a junior from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, went 2-for-4 with two runs driven in. Chelsey Eddy, a redshirt freshman from Rockwall, Texas, was 1-for-2 as OCU had 11 hits.
Boxscore

NAIA Championships

At Gulf Shores, Ala.

Gulf Shores Sportsplex

Monday's Games

Game 1: California Baptist vs. Oklahoma City, 10 a.m., field 1

Game 2: CSU San Marcos vs. Shorter, 10 a.m., field 2

Game 3: Belhaven vs. William Carey, 10 a.m., field 3

Game 4: Lubbock Christian vs. Oregon Tech, 10 a.m., field 4

Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 12:30 p.m., field 3

Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:30 p.m., field 4

Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 12:30 p.m., field 1

Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 12:30 p.m., field 2

Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 5:30 p.m., field 1

Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 5:30 p.m., field 2

Tuesday's Games

Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 12:30 p.m., field 1

Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 12:30 p.m, field 2

Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 5:30 p.m., field 1

Wednesday's Games

Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 12:30 p.m., championship, field 1

Game 15: If necessary, 30 minutes following game 14